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Intricate detailing, rich colors, the re-interpretation of iconic figures, all signature elements of a Tord Boontje design. Add to that new materials, the latest design and manufacturing technology and a unique sense of space and you have a designer who, in a relatively short time, has put his distinctive mark on the design world. We caught up with him on the occasion of the launch of a special holiday collection created just for department store Target. We asked him our usual questions as well as some targeted ones...
Christmas day sketch for the Target collection.
When did you decide to become a designer?
When I was young, I was always making things like dens and furniture for my room or earrings that I would sell at school. My mother was a textile designer and teacher in history of art, so there were always lots of art books around. Then when I was 12 I discovered that you could actually go to a college and learn more about this, so that is what I decided to do.
Where do you do most of your design work?
In our studio in France.
At work in the Tord Boontje design studio in France.
Where, or from what, do you get inspiration for your work?
I soak up everything, making things to live with is a reflection of life, so it includes having a nice dinner, shopping, visiting museums, a walk in the forest, watching a great movie, dance, or sunrise or reading a book.
What is your favorite part of the design process and why?
The very beginning, before things get complicated by reality, and then the end where we managed to overcome reality and make a fantasy come true.
How would you label/categorize your work?
Somewhere between romantic and technological.
Imagery for a LED Luminaire for Target.
Do you have a signature style? If yes, what are the hallmarks of your style?
Chaoticness, randomness and forgetfulness
What item (PC, pen, etc) can you not do without when you are designing?
For the first bit, I do not need anything at all, I can do it inside my head. For the next part of the process I need my complete studio which is as large as an airplane hanger and houses a team of 6 people, machines, tools, computers and stuff. It is all essential, and seems to becomes more every day. Oh, and the coffee machine is important.
What's next?
A collection of products and furniture, produced as a Studio Tord Boontje Collection and perhaps a story book.
And what about Target today... they've worked with object designers before for house branded collections, Michael Graves and Philippe Starck were two, and the results were mitigated. How is your collection different?
We have created not only a collection of 35 products across different product areas, tableware, party and decorating items, consumables and lighting, also this is the first time that Target has partnered with a designer to make a total Christmas season look. Besides the products, we have made store decorations for all 1,500 stores, the graphics for all catalogues and collaborated on the art-direction of the TV commercials. Target is a mass market chain, where mass produced items are sold, even compared to my experiences with other manufacturers that were industrial, this is a much larger scale. An estimated 100 million people will come in contact with these designs in the limited period that they will exist, from November 1st to just after New Year. For me this is also a nice idea, that there is a kind of limited edition build into the concept of the collection.
In-store design for Target stores.
And are there plans for more Tord Boontje-Target collaborations?
We will see…
Tord Boontje designed candelabra for Target.
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VITAL STATS
Full name: Tord Adrie Boontje
Location: Bourg-Argental, France
Size of team: 6
In business since: 1994
Claim to fame projects: Wednesday, Happy Ever After, Swarovski, Kvadrat, Target, Moroso.
Spare time: Walking and cooking
MEDIA FAVES
Favorite website(s): wikipedia.org, showstudio.com
What music is on your ipod or radio? Goldfrapp
Your favorite magazine(s): icon
Last or current book you are reading: Passionate Minds by David Bodanis
Last movie you saw: Rebecca by Hitchcock
Wow, amazing! Thanks for featuring this interview. Unfortunately, we don't have Target stores in Canada, but I will definitely be making a trip soon to catch this collection and experience the store designs.
P.S. I fell in love with Tord Boontje when I first saw the breathtaking Midsummer Light while studying in Milan. I just had to have it! ;)
I just love the creations by Tord Boontje, as they hit the current zeitgeist -- they are romantic and modern at a time and made of high tech materials. I am living in France and here a kind of neo-baroque boom is obvious at the moment.
So whether the curtain UNTIL DAWN or the lamp ICARUS or MIDSUMMER, they all give my apartment a "friendly" and extraordinary touch. I found many products at www.designers-avenue.com. I like the above mentioned candelabra a lot as well. Will it only be available at Target?
Cris, "Studio Tord Boontje for Target" is available exclusively at Target as of today until the end of the holiday season. The Candelabra is available online here: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html?tag=tcom_gogl614-20&asin=B000GFZKEA
I was blown away after walking in Target last weekend. It was obvious that this was the first time Target had collaborated with a designer for a particular collection AND the instore experience. Boontje's small endcap had his collection and was wonderful but for me the excitement was the imagery across the entire store -- above the underwear, next to the pet food aisle, across from the rugs. It was magical, well-considered, beautiful and MASS. I want to dumpster dive after the New Year for those die cut promotional banners!
Who is doing these interviews?
You say these are "our usual questions", but you
came late. With these questions it seems to be
one of the popular designboom interviews,
they are using exactly the same kind of questions
since many years. Why don't you ask designers different things?
It is boring.
Interesting questions Fabrizio, the answer to ‘Who is doing these interviews?’ is myself (Harry) and MoCo Loco contributing editors. The ‘usual questions’ refers to a series we started a few months back on inspiration. Here’s the link that explains the origins of the series.
http://mocoloco.com/archives/003016.php
As for the similarities with designboom, a site we admire BTW, I checked the most recent interview, an interview with art director Marc Atlan, and yes, there are similarities but there are more differences. We have a few more inspiration interviews to go, but in the meantime, what questions would you like us to ask?
What will happen to all the displays? Is it possible to buy any? Tord Boontje is wonderful . Target looks wonderful.
The link to Studio Tord Boontje for Target doesn't take you to a page featuring the Tord collection. I can't find Tord anywhere on the Target web site searching for Studio Tord Boontje, Tord, Boontje, candelabra or luminaire. Shucks. I thought I might buy one or two mass market design objects.
Chris, 'Tis the the end of the holiday season, the Boontje holiday collection is no longer available. They may still have them in stores.
Tord Boontje's collection is available through Artecnica Inc. www.artecnicainc.com
I saw Tord's work at the Meta show in Milan and it seems really complex and more thoughtful than stuff he has done before. I heard that someone wrote about his work but I can't locate it - I heard it was Katherine ???? but I don't know who exactly. I heard some interesting things but don't know how to find out any more. Anyway - it was about Tord's ideas and approach to the wardrobe with fig leaves and the philosophy of getting dressed and clothes. If anyone can direct me to more info it would be great, because this seems like a big step forward for Tord and I think it would be good to know what he is thinking about and where he is coming from. The installation was really good too. Let the objects shine in a mellow environment.